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Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas
Larvatus Prodeo was an Australian group blog which discussed politics, sociology, culture, life, religion and science from a left of centre perspective. more»
Testing.
With the pathetic KRudd05% announcement this week on CPRS, it is worth another look at the 2020 gabfest submissions from the public (Choose “Sustainability” as the topic) and the Sustainability section of the final report
From the final report on the gabfest:
So… what was the gabfest and consultation with the citizenry for?
Tree not up. Tax not done. Ruined my new black pants in a misunderstanding with the even newer washing machine.
Not happy.
If Die Grunen is the answer…then what was the fucking question again?
Heard a funny noise out the back.
Went to have a look.
Juvenile Tawny Frogmouth sitting on a branch mumbling to itself.
Very nice.
Yeah sorry about the pants Pavlov. Go pat your cat. Speaking of, some advice would come in handy, particularly for the newly formed small wounds in my hand….
I know this cat. Its name is Tax (short for Ataxia cause horribile things were done to it when small). But for all of that he is the most inelligent cat in the street and the most dominant, and the friendliest. Yesterday he was rubbing himself all over me, rolling around on the street, enjoying the long pats I was giving him, but at a certain point got really pissed off and was hissing at the same time. But he continued wanting pats. Insisted on the pats while hissing. I would put it down to his ataxia but Ive seen other cats do it before. Enjoy the pat while hissing at you. Personally I think its a little insane but before I judge something I know little of, i need to ask: Why do they do that? What gives in the cat brain?
Its funny though cause you never know when the turn will come. Is a bit of a thrill. Especially when avoiding the thesis. You think: Will I come out unscathed with this one last pat? Or will my hand will be returned all shredded up a bit.. I love cats – the original bad boys.
Conor Cruise O’Brien 1917 – 2008
I was woken up this morning to the sound of my father and grandfather pruning a tree… not pleased…
I bet the tree wasn’t too happy either.
Casey, re cat, you ask why. Hm. I’ve been asking men why they did things for many years now and the answer is almost always ‘I don’t know.’ And it seems to be true. So your reach may be exceeding your grasp as far as the motives of a cat are concerned.
In the medicine cabinet @ 5; PC @ 9,
Because they’re not dogs?
“Crawls back into hole.”
Tree not up. Tax not done. Ruined my new black pants in a misunderstanding with the even newer washing machine.
Not happy
Cheer up, Pav, could be worse.
In my house it’s tree up, too poor to pay income tax, clothes come second-hand and have been handwashing absolutely everything for two years now (don’t ask!).
Merry Xmas to the cat!
@ 5 ” particularly for the newly formed small wounds in my hand….”
And there i was thinking you had stigmata.
This is a test
“So your reach may be exceeding your grasp as far as the motives of a cat are concerned.
Well, your grace, perhaps you are right where the feline brain is concered. I read you enought to know that you know your way around the male brain as well. But as for me, heh. Like a walk in the park You can read em easy. Easy peasy. Easy peasy weasy. No way can they hide a thing. No way ever. Read them like a book. See straight through them. No challenge at all. Nothing. nada. zilch. niente. Give them a beer. Tell them their legs look nice. Thats it babe.
Now Im going to the parish priest to get him to check my stigmata. See what he makes of it.
The New York Times said in an editorial this week, that there was a solid legal case for prosecuting top Bush Administration officials as they had approved torture. No great revelation really – Mr. Cheney has been talking publicly about it in recent interviews (he must know there is a Presidential pardon heading his way!). The Times concluded that “A prosecutor should be appointed to consider criminal charges against top officials in the Pentagon and others involved in planning the abuse.” But then the paper’s editors went on after that to give Obama a pass, saying, “Given his other problems—and how far he has moved from the powerful stands he took on these issues early in the campaign—we do not hold out real hope Barack Obama, as president, will take such a politically fraught step.” It would appear that the American government cannot be expected to prosecute criminals and fight a recession at the same time.
The NY Times must be feeling somewhat guilty over their own over-enthusiastic backing of the headlong rush to war back in 2002, but a mea culpa is better late than never, perhaps.
In the case of the authorizing of torture, which is banned by both international treaties to which the US, Australia and Britain are signatories, and in the US, much of this is included into their Criminal Code – mainly to ensure the full weight of US law can be brought against any country that similarly abuses captured US soliders. Many believe the in-coming administration will have a sworn obligation to prosecute them – as the upholding of the rule of law is what they will be undertaking.
Our own Phillip Ruddock, as Attorney General, positively closed his eyes, ears and nose to the stench of American instigated war crimes, and it would seem probable that our involvement with the 2 current wars in the Middle East carries great potential for Australians to have been tainted by such abuses.
One has to ask: “When does deliberately avoiding knowing of abuses, mean you are similarly an abuser of international law, in this case the Geneva Agreement pertaining to the treatment of prisoners of war?”
Like the “Children Overboard” scandal where no-one thought to tell the PM that it hadn’t actually happened despite the PM continuing to say that it had?
When and how will the Pincohet precedent be slapped on these abusers of international law seems to me to be only a matter of time – otherwise the “Rule of Law” is meaningless. Thankfully!
Ml @ 16,
I heartily concur with you.
And I admire your optimism.
Short of the Greens moving and getting and enquiry in the Senate, our pollie meet all such requests with a deafening silence, I’m sure, if only because it might limit their future options.
Kids next door sorry for yesterday’s bad behaviour, One of them seen banging my wire door as they left by responsible adult family member. Other kid tells me they got into trouble and that she (the kid who told me this) don’t slam doors, oh, no. Said, yeah, well you should behave yourself when you come to peoples’ houses even if they don’t do what you want. They’re little sweeties, really. For those of you who find this mystifying yesterday I told the kids next door they can’t use my computer for a while as I need peace and quiet to study and write, and besides am not very well. Had the opportunity yesterday to explain it to an older kid. Am assured there will be no further trouble.
P/Cat et al – as the Great Semi-Somnambulist Dave Hughes once opined, men are being honest when answering “I don’t know” to any given question, not necessarily starting from “Is your arse ablaze?”.
The other infuriating answer, to the terrifying question “what are you thinking?”(NB context specific), “Nothing..” is also utterly true, usually.
I heart Dave Hughes.
“Messiah” tonight, bloody good. Rural town, local choirs. I don’t know.
Ok Pav, I googled it. Its all about overstimulation.
You’re petting , and suddenly he grabs you with his claws and teeth. Not a full-powered attack, but you still have those sharp tips around your hand. What to do? In the short run, freeze. Don’t struggle or fight back, or you may trigger a real bite. Sometimes smacking your other hand hard against a hard surface — a tabletop, for example — may startle your him into breaking off the attack. If you stay still, however, he will usually calm down and release you. That’s the solution if you’ve gotten to the attack stage. The better option is to be familiar with his body language and stop petting before he becomes overstimulated. People often think such attacks come without warning, but they’ve missed the warning signs. He’s simply had enough. The tail is the key. If he starts twitching his tail in a jerky fashion, it’s time to stop petting.
Overstimulation
Also, don’t rub just above their tail because it turns them on.
Like the previous comment, this one is not about Dave Hughes.
Even if they’ve been neutered?
Far out. You can castrate them and they still keep going.
Thats kind of like Adrien isnt it?
Dogs, meanwhile are happy so long as you give them a pat on the head and a bone.Though I have noticed whippets and chihuahuas do like to get on the bed and sleep under the blankets in winter.Well, anytime really, so long as they’re close to their human.
On another topic. Baz Lurhman is going to make a movie of the Great Gatsby. Our Nic won’t be making another movie with him though. The o/s reviews for Australia were a bit of an enlightenment, apparently.I shudder to think what atrocities his shallow razzle-dazzle will inflict on Scott Fitzgerald. Whatever he intends it won’t have anything to do with fidelity to the novel, I’d even bet on that.
OTOH, if he made a movie based on one of Hemingway’s novels that would be interesting. (Catherine singing Tipperary; Maria singing How Much is that Doggie in the Window,(I know its not a Spanish Civil War song, but anachronism is in, y’know). Give us a break.
Meanwhile a British reviewer of ‘Australia’ in Times On Line persists in calling a station a ranch. I even posted a correction on that in their comments.Ranch is American. Once again Germaine Greer is spot on.
Much to my surprise, since its Sunday, received from overseas The New York Letter Book of General James Robertson, 1780-83. Panic, as I’ve mislaid my front door key – its in the house somewhere – and had to put back door on latch to go and sign for book. Better find that key.
Now have a problem. read the Robertson Letter book or continuing taking notes about Magra at Botany Bay for the prologue. (as well as dipping into a book about the Mughal World.)Still, life could be a lot worse.
Catnip goes right down to the root!
Found keys under computer keyboard. Suppose the whole thing has a plus. In my desperate search I sort of tidied up the table I keep all my research on, found an empty kiwi-fruit container on kitchen table (also tidied up) I use for keeping my cards in which I can use for the Magra at Botany Bay stuff, (not being able to get any last shopping day as reasonably cheap kiwi-fruit had given way to very large and expensive pieces of Xmas fruit – capitalism rules – ), did the washing up in case I’d dropped the keys in the sink.
like I said, things could be a lot worse.
Jill at Feministe reckons this might be the greatest website of all time. What say you?
I just had to watch the onw with the chuhuahua.
Good one, Helen.
Helen @ 30, That. Is. So. Cute.
Zoe @ 22 – there is a little spot just above many cat’s tails where if you rub it, it causes them to stick their tongue out and start licking. They’ll start licking/cleaning anything in front of them at the time. 2 of 3 of my cats have that reflex. Great party trick (and they don’t seem to mind).
This is not recommended. A feral mother cat left a litter of four under my house recently. Local council ranger offered the local pound if/once I had caught them. Previous policy of providing traps/bait/direct assistance done away with as a sop to cat fanciers apparently.
Constructed home made trap and eventually enticed all four inside. Absolutely no chance of patting or rubbing any compulsive licking spot. Double leather gloves to remove keeping hands beyond claws/teeth/muscle. There is a thin line between wild and domesticated believe me.
New Soup recipe. Been cooking this for a couple of months now.
Four or more chicken drumsticks.(depend on the size of the pot. I suspect six-eight would be better.
Packet of chopped mushrooms.
Large handful of grren beans.
Two brown onions, medium size.
4 tomatoes.(reasonable size, but not large.)
1 green capsicum.
1 red capsicum.
2 carrots. (optional: they’re a bit common, really.
Preparation:
Defrost chicken drumsticks, lay in bottom of pot.
Chuck in mushrooms.(Don’t ever leave out the mushrooms.)
Chop beans, chuck in pot.
peel, chop onions, chick in pot.
Chop capsicums, chuck in pot.
Chop tomatoes into eight pieces each, chuck in pot.(Don’t ever leave out the tomato.)
Peel, chop carrots, chuck in pot.
Add water.
Salt to taste.
Add a good dash of Worcestershire sauce.
Preparation:
Bring to boil and let boil for about 5/10 mins.
Simmer for several hours.
Eat.
It lasts for about 2 days with one person. Is delicious.
Oh,I should mention above soup is also very rich. I can only hack half a big bowl at a time. But delicious.
Adrien,
So I don’t derail the Afghanistan thread, what is the Derridean Schnitt?
when you say green beans, what sort Paul?
And what about fresh mushrooms? what are packet mushrooms? are they dried mushrooms?
Looks like a nice soup!
Casey’s Kitchen.
Ordinary green beans you buy in the supermarket. I think they’re also called string beans. You know, like peas and beans.
The mushrooms are sliced fresh in a plastic packet . I buy them at Bi-lo.
I hope that answers your questions.
Enjoy the soup.
ps. if its a big pot – like real big, you might like to use a couple more tomatoes, prepared as directed in recipe.
thank you for clarifiying Paul! Might try that soon…
At the moment I’m enjoying a snack of:
Beat that for a brand name!
Ps – yummy!
btw, best to buy green beans on the day you intend to cook the soup. If you leave them too long in the fridge in a plastic bag they get slimy. Not that that satops me from cuuting them up & chucking them in the pot. Doesn’t matter once they’re cooked.
Thanks Paul. My mum grows beans and things in her garden, tomatoes too. There are other things and herbs and figs and secret potions and shit. There is so much I don’t remember all the things. Anyway the point is, its always fresh at the foodstore I go to…
Helen, that sloth was weirdly cute, weirdly, human and just weirdly weird all at the same time. But was it really sleepy, or just being a sloth? I’m so envious of them.
Whippets sleep more than any other dog. I believe the ability to sleep under any circumstance is part of the breed standard. Once I found her asleep with her bum on the couch and her head on the floor. She apparently fell asleep getting off the couch.
“Pope Kimberella XXIII”
I can’t believe there were 12 Kimberella’s before you and I missed them all. How could it be that I did not hear about them from those Jesus lovin’, Kumbyah singin, post vatican 2 sisters of mercy decked out in their minamilist wipmples, in between their emotive renditions of Sister Janet Mead’s “Our Father”?. All that sacred feminine and not a whisper???? mmmm
Fine,
Yeah I had a whippet like that years ago. As for chihuahuas, its not that they sleep that much, they just like to be up close. Mine used to like to get inside a shirt, especially if I was wearing it.
Paul – So I don’t derail the Afghanistan thread, what is the Derridean Schnitt?
.
Did I say the Derridean Schnitt? I meant the Derridean Schmmitt.
Um that’s Schmitt not Schmmitt. I’m really not all that familiar with the Derridean Schmitt. More the Derridean Schultz. Or is that the Schultzian Derrida?
.
BTW Do you have a good recipe for elf?
Elf r4ecipe.
1.ensure it is an elf – I’m told you can distinguish by funny green caps and white and red striped stockings and some weird kind of green leiderhosen. [sp.?]
2. put tape over elf mouth.
3. Strip elf.
4.peel with potato peeler. Be careful around the ears. If you prick yourself on the pointy bits you could fall asleep and not wake up for a hundred years.
5. boil in large pot with very very large mushrooms etc until tender. Make sure flesh is cooked till tender.
6.Feed it to the cat and the chihuahua for Xmas dinner.
WARNING: Animals may tend to fly, talk, and be exceedingling sarcastic after eating elf stew. They may also fart fairy dust, so go easy on the Pal and whatever it is you feed cats that makes them fart.
Also, Santa will NOT visit your house next Xmas.
Outstanding thanks Paul. Santa’s not allowed in my house. The great souse always pinches my whiskey.